ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
PM attends the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards function
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards at the function organized by the Indian Parliamentary Group in New Delhi. The Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards at the Central Hall of Parliament. Vice President Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan were also present on the occasion.
Congratulating the award winners, Prime Minister said that their contributions to Parliament and the country would always be remembered. He added that it is an honour to work with and learn from these outstanding parliamentarians.
Prime Minister said that Parliament represents the dreams and voice of 125 crore Indians. He added that everything said in Parliament is of immense value and provides an opportunity for policy makers and Government to resolve important issues.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said that disruptions in Parliament usually affect common-man and the parliamentarians who represent them the most. He added that the disruptions are a loss to the nation than to the government.
Prime Minister said that it is the responsibility of the parliamentarians to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament so that every parliamentarian gets a chance to speak and thereby become part of history.
Special Service and Features
Observation of inhomogeneous plasmonic field distribution in a nanocavity
The progress of plasmon-based technologies relies on an understanding of the properties of the enhanced electromagnetic fields generated by the coupling nanostrucutres. Plasmon-enhanced applications include advanced spectroscopies, optomechanics, optomagnetics and biosensing. In all plasmon-based techniques and applications, field intensity distribution is a decisive factor. The currently available plasmon imaging and molecular recognition techniques take advantage of the inhomogeneous field in the transverse plane . However, little is known about the field distribution in the longitudinal direction , i.e., the actual magnitude of the field gradient along the longitudinal direction has never been measured experimentally. Especially, precise determination of plasmon field intensity distribution within a nanogap remains challenging.
To overcome these obstacles and to measure the inhomogeneity along the longitudinal direction  in a nanocavity, a group of international researchers worked on this mission and came out with their findings which is reported in the latest issue of Nature Nanotechnology journal. This international research team includes Dr. M. Kathiresan, a scientist from the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute , Karaikudi, TN.
Dr. M. Kathiresan
A self-assembled monolayer  based molecular ruler was made from a set of viologens with which the plasmon field distribution in the longitudinal  direction of a nanocavity was measured precisely with ~2-Å spatial resolution. Molecular ruler composes of a set of viologen-based monolayers assembled on an atomically flat Au single-crystal surface. A nanocavity of well-defined size was then constructed around each self-assembled monolayer  by placing either core/shell Au/glass nanoparticles or bare Au nanoparticles on top. The size of the nanocavity was measured based on the height of the SAM. By acquiring surface-enhanced Raman scattering  spectra from the set of viologens, relative field strengths at different longitudinal positions in the nanocavity were measured. Spatial resolution for measurement of longitudinal field distribution is limited by the difference in the position of the probe moiety, along with each type of viologen molecule, and it is ~2 Å. We have shown that the electric field strength is inhomogeneous with an unexpectedly large gradient, as a result of the self-focusing effect of individual molecules in the molecular monolayer to form a plasmonic comb in the nanocavity.
This research not only enriches the fundamental understanding of the plasmonic field distribution in nanocavities, it may also be applied in variety of applications, including plasmon-enhanced reactions, photo-selective bond dissociation, ultra-high-resolution Raman chemical imaging and optical force-controlled assembly of nanostructures for nanodevices
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Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Webinar on “Green and Safe Port”
As part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” and taking into account the COVID-19 restrictions Paradip Port Trust  organised today a Webinar on “Green and Safe Port”. The objective was to promote cooperation among various stakeholders for a safe, sustainable and green Port. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT in his inaugural address, stressed on making PPT a resilient, efficient and green Port. Apart from highlighting various green initiatives undertaken by the Port Authority, he appealed everybody to ensure at clean and green environment for our future generations. Shri S.K.Das, CME in his welcome address, emphasized on a green environment, inside the Port prohibited area as well as in the township.
Among the main speakers of the occasion, Shri Chandan Panigrahi, Dy.CEE highlighted the green initiative of the Port like installation of Rooftop Solar Power Plant, Cold Ironing -Shore to Ship power supply, Induction of e-vehicle on hire for Port Trust work. Shri Deepak Rath, Dy.CME narrated about execution of State-of-the-Art Dry Fog and Plain water dust suppression system to provide workers a safe & environment friendly work place at MCHP. Shri Moloy Dasgupta, CE mentioned about implementation of three Sewerage Treatment Plants, a two kilometre long Net Barrier, Road Sweeping Machine, Truck/Vehicle Tyre washing system and plantation of more than one lakh trees in the Port surroundings to keep the township clean and green. Captain Amit Kumar, Pilot highlighted about the Oil pollution response equipment facility in the Port to prevent any untoward oil spillage in the sea. Shri P.P.Saha, Executive Engineer, PED offered the vote of thanks.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Cattle Insurance
(No interest rate has been fixed for Cattle Insurance. The premium rates of Cattle Insurance has been fixed by the Government, primarily based on the stakeholder consultation with the Insurance companies operating in Government Sector involved in Livestock Insurance and the State Governments. The past claim experience is the major criteria that has been taken into consideration.
The Livestock Insurance scheme has got good acceptability across India. Feedback reports from various States indicate that premium rates are affordable to the farmers belonging to different categories.
The Government has not digitized the overall Cattle Insurance procedures because of the reason that the central share is released to the State Governments depending on their demand and availability of funds. After providing matching shares by the States, they are utilizing the total amount for livestock insurance for the desired number of cattle. The details of animals being insured are updated in the INAPH portal.
This information was given by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
QUICK ESTIMATES OF INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION AND USE-BASED INDEX FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2023 
 are released on 12th of every month  with a six weeks lag and compiled with data received from source agencies, which in turn receive the data from the producing factories/ establishments.
2. For the month of February 2023, the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production  with base 2011-12 stands at 138.7. The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of February 2023 stand at 129.0, 136.8 and 174.0 respectively. These Quick Estimates will undergo revision in subsequent releases as per the revision policy of IIP.
3. As per Use-based classification, the indices stand at 139.7 for Primary Goods, 104.4 for Capital Goods, 143.2 for Intermediate Goods and 164.0 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for the month of February 2023. Further, the indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables stand at 108.4 and 154.3 respectively for the month of February 2023.
4. Details of Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production for the month of February 2023 at Sectoral, 2-digit level of National Industrial Classification  and by Use-based classification are given at Statements I, II and III respectively. Also, for users to appreciate the changes in the industrial sector, Statement IV provides month-wise indices for the last 12 months, by industry groups  and sectors.
5. Along with the Quick Estimates of IIP for the month of February 2023, the indices for January 2023 have undergone the first revision and those for November 2022 have undergone final revision in the light of the updated data received from the source agencies. The Quick Estimates for February 2023, the first revision for January 2023 and the final revision for November 2022 have been compiled at weighted response rates of 92 percent, 94 percent and 95 percent respectively.
6. Release of the Index for March 2023 will be on Friday, 12th May 2023.
Note: -
- This Press release information is also available at the Website of the Ministry -http://www.mospi.gov.in
- Press release in Hindi follows and shall be available at:
https://www.mospi.gov.in/hi
Click here to see Annexures:
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
No ads promoting online betting, Ministry issues advisory to media
Online betting ads on online and social media not to target Indian audience
‘Betting poses significant financial, socio-economic risk for consumers’
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has today issued an advisory to print, electronic and digital media to refrain from advertising online betting platforms. The advisory comes in light of instances of a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in print, electronic, social and online media.
Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially youth and children, the advisory states. It has further added that these advertisements on online betting have the effect of promoting this largely prohibited activity. “The advertisements of online betting are misleading, and do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978”, it has stated.
The advisory has been issued in larger public interest, and it has advised the print and electronic media to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms. It has also advised the online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, to not display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements towards the Indian audience.
On 4th December, 2020, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had issued an advisory to Private Satellite TV channels to adhere to the Advertising Standards Council of India  guidelines on advertisements of online gaming which contained specific Do’s and Dont’s for print and audio-visual advertisements of online gaming.
The detailed advisory can be read at the below link:
https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advisory%20on%20online%20betting%20advertisements%2013.06.2022%282%29_0.pdf
Saurabh Singh
(Visitor Counter : 4369
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
51 lakh houses approved under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana  in 3 years of its implementation
28 lakh houses grounded and in various stages of completion
8 lakh houses completed
This is in reference to an article published in a Delhi based English daily newspaper on 8th July 2018 citing some incomplete figures for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban. The correct figures are stated as below-
Under PMAY  so far more than 51 Lakhs dwelling units have been sanctioned against the validated demand of 1 crore in last 3 years of implementation. This is a huge jump in comparison to erstwhile housing scheme wherein only 12.4 Lakh houses were approved in around 9 years of its implementation. Out of over 51 lakh sanctioned houses, over 28 lakhs have already been grounded and are in various stages of construction. Further over 8 lakh houses have already been completed and nearly 8 lakh houses have been occupied by the benficiaries.
The newspaper article gives an impression that the proposed Global Housing construction technology challenge is being undertaken to expedite filling up the housing construction gap. This is not correct. The fact is that the Global Housing construction technology challenge has been proposed to use the opportunity of large scale construction under PMAY-U to attract the best available global construction technologies which could ensure delivery of houses at a minimum cost, in minimum time while ensuring maximum number of houses in a given area. This will help in technology transfer to our country so that ultimately these globally best available construction technologies and designs get adopted in the country benefiting the construction industry at large.
The Global Housing Construction Technology Challenge  may help us adopt those technologies to suit our local conditions and requirements. It is win-win situation for all stakeholders which would help in fast transition of new global construction technologies in India giving a fillip to building affordable houses in India in a cost effective and sustainable manner.
Infact , use of new and fast-track construction technology has already been adopted in a big way in the scheme. GoI has been insisting States/UTs to issue technology-agnostic tenders for construction of large scale housing. CPWD has approved schedule of rates for 8 types of new technologies available in the country. So far, construction of nearly 8.6 lakh houses is being done using these new green technologies, which are fast and environment sensitive. Progress of the houses on the ground are being monitored through geo-tagging using space technology.
In terms of coverage, the Mission is a paradigm shift in the history of housing schemes being implemented in the past. The Government of India is committed to provide “Housing for All” by the end of the Mission period-2022. A National Urban Housing Fund for Rs. 60,000 crores has been set up for raising Extra Budgetary Resources  in phases, for the rapid implementation of PMAY . Keeping the ethos of cooperative federalism, the States/UTs are implementing the scheme with considerable zeal and initiatives.
RJ/SB
(Visitor Counter : 1748
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Supply of non-essential goods by E-commerce companies prohibited
It has been clarified by Ministry of Home Affairs that supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during lockdown.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports extends last date for National Sports Awards 2022
Last date for receipt of applications has now been extended from 27th September, 2022 to 1st October, 2022
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports invited applications for National Sports Awards viz. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards, Arjuna Award, Droncharya Award, Dhyan Chand Award, Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Purskar  and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad  Trophy for the year 2022 on 27th August, 2022. The notifications were uploaded on the Ministry’s website www.yas.nic.in.
The last date for receipt of applications has been extended from 27th September, 2022 to 1st October 2022 . The applications from the eligible sportspersons / coaches / entities / universities are invited for the award. They are required to self apply online at dedicated Portal dbtyas-sports.gov.in. Indian Olympics Association / Sports Authority of India / recognized National Sports Federations/ Sports Promotion Boards / State and UTs Governments etc. are also intimated accordingly. Nominations received after 1st October, 2022  will not be considered.
Prime Minister's Office
Members of the Parliament of Sri Lanka calls on PM
A delegation of Members of the Parliament of Sri Lanka called on the Prime Minister today.H.E. Mr. Karu Jayasurya, Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, led the multi-party delegation.
The Parliamentarians noted the historical ties and shared spiritual & cultural heritage of India and Sri Lanka and expressed appreciation for the deepening of relations between the two countries in recent years. They also noted the benefits from a number of people-centric development cooperation projects being carried out with India’s assistance in Sri Lanka. They agreed that speedy implementation of joint economic projects will bring benefits to the economies and the people of both the countries.
The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation and stressed the importance of such linkages. He stated that the new initiatives for enhancing relations between provincial assembliesand local bodies of the two countries would further deepen significantly the close people-to-people ties and trust between the two countries.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19
Death of a 76 year old male from Karnataka is confirmed to be caused due to co-morbidity and has also tested positive for COVID-19. The details of the case are as follows:
He visited Saudi Arabia from 29th January 2020 to 29th February 2020.
He was a known case of Hypertension and Asthma. He reached back to Hyderabad on 29th February and went to Kalaburgi.
While he was asymptomatic on his return, he developed symptoms of fever and cough on 06th March 2020. One private doctor visited him at his home and treated him there.
On 9th March 2020, the symptoms got aggravated and he was shifted to a private hospital in Kalaburgi. In this private hospital he was provisionally diagnosed as “mid zone Viral Pneumonia” and “suspected COVID-19”.
The sample was collected on 09.03.2020 by Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory, GIMS, Kalaburgi to rule out COVID-19 and sample was dispatched to VRDL, BMC&RI, Bengaluru. Without waiting for the test results, the attendees insisted and the patient was discharged against medical advice  and the attendees took him to a private hospital in Hyderabad.
As per instructions of Deputy Commissioner, Kalaburgi District, the DHO met the attendees to convince them to admit the patient to the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences , Kalaburgi in the isolation ward set up at the Institute. But the attendees refused to listen to him. They transferred him to Hyderabad without his knowledge.
The patient was admitted in a private hospital in Hyderabad and treated. Later he was discharged and while he was being brought back he died on the way to the GIMS, Kalaburgi on 10.03.2020.
All the precautionary measures as per protocol such as contact tracing, screening and home quarantine of the contacts have been initiated by the District Health and Family Welfare Department, Karnataka and being monitored continuously.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Cabinet approves reservation norms for Jute Packaging Materials for Jute Year 2021-22 under JPM Act, 1987
Compulsorily 100% foodgrains and 20% of sugar to be packed in jute bags
Relief to 3,70,000 workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units a well as support the livelihood of around 40 lakh farmer families
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has approved reservation norms for mandatory use of jute in packaging for the Jute Year 2021 -22  on 10th November, 2021. The Mandatory packaging norms approved for Jute Year 2021-22 provide for 100% reservation of the foodgrains and 20% of sugar to be compulsorily packed in jute bags.
The reservation norms in present proposal would further protect the interest of domestic production of raw jute and jute packaging material in lndia, thereby, making India self-reliant in consonance with Aatmnirbhar Bharat. Reservation for packaging in jute packaging material consumed around 66.57% of the raw jute produced in the country . By bringing into effect the provision of JPM Act, the Government will provide relief to 0.37 million workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units as well as support the livelihood of around 4.0 Million farm families. Besides, it will help protect environment because jute is natural, bio- degradable, renewable and reusable fibre and hence fulfills all sustainability parameters.
The Jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy of India in general and Eastern Region in particular i.e. West Bengal, Bihar, Odisa, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal.
The reservations norms under JPM Act provide for direct employment to 0.37 million workers and 4 million farmers in the Jute Sector. JPM Act, 1987 protects interest of Jute farmers, workers and persons engaged in jute goods’ production. 75% of the total production of the Jute Industry is Jute Sacking Bags of which 90% is supplied to the Food Corporation of India  and State Procurement Agencies  and remaining is exported/sold directly
Government of India purchases Jute sacking bags worth approximately Rs. 8,000 crore every year for packing of foodgrains, hence ensures guaranteed market for the produce of Jute Farmers and Workers.
Average Production of Jute Sacking Bags is about 30 lakhs bales  and Government is committed to ensure complete off-take of the sacking production of the jute bags in order to protect the interest of Jute farmers, workers and persons engaged in the Jute Industry.